(no subject)

2 hour meeting with the Rochester High Street Traders forum and the councillor for the high street ward this morning. It actually went well, and we got our point across that they just hadn't understood what is an issue for wheelchair users. I'm not 100% happy with their idea of putting ramps down as a solution to stalls blocking the pavement. They'll let wheelchairs have access, but they'll be a horrendous trip hazard, particularly for the VI community. I'm not convinced "well, all the stalllholders have £5m insurance" is the ideal response to a safety risk, but the councillor agreed it needs to be discussed with the Highways department.

But it's just as well I took my friend Sue along, both for the powerchair perspective, and because otherwise I might have punched someone. Every time I tried to explain why something was an issue for manual wheelchair users, one of the traders jumped in to cut me off and say "No, it isn't". You can imagine how well that went down with me. Apparently it isn't entirely his fault, it's an aspect of his vascular dementia, but it was making it almost impossible to get our message across. Fortunately Sue recognised what was going on and dragged him off into a side-discussion.

Best moment:
Sue to Cllr: We've not met, but you may know my name.
Cllr: Hmm?
Sue: Sue G
Cllr: {Goes white}